The end of May usually signals the end of school, the start of summer and the opening of community pools.

This year, as Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s stay-at-home order remains in effect through May, with plans to slowly open up the state, many mayors are questioning whether pools will open on time, late or at all.

“Right now, we don’t know what will happen come June,” Pittsfield Mayor John Hayden said. “We don’t know what the state will do or what kind of response we would get from the public” if pools open.

Pittsfield is finishing up maintenance on its pool, including sandblasting and painting, but things remain up in the air beyond that, Hayden said.

He is talking with the board about potential plans if the pool is able to open, he said.

“We will have to have meetings with the park board and health department about how to safely operate and follow any recommendations or orders,” Hayden said.

Winchester also is doing maintenance on its pool, including work on the pool filter house, but that should be done by the end of May, Winchester Mayor Rex McIntire said.

“We plan to open up, but we can’t guarantee that we’ll open,” McIntire said. “We’d have to follow any recommendations from the state and our local health department.”

If the pool opens, McIntire will work with pool staff and the health department to ensure that all guidelines are followed and safety measures are in place, he said.

Jacksonville is at a standstill with its summer pool preparation. The city has performed all necessary maintenance to have the pool ready for summer, but Mayor Andy Ezard said he doesn’t know when it will open.

“We want to see it open because its another recreational opportunity for our community and it provides summer jobs for our lifeguards,” Ezard said. “But I don’t know how you maintain social distancing in a pool. It’s a public health question.”

Though most central Illinois communities still plan to open their pools, there could come a point in the waiting game when there’s no point.

“If it gets into July, it might not be worth them hiring staff or worth the cost of chemicals,” Hayden said. “Then there is the question of if the public would even come because of safety concerns.”

Still, it probably will be mid-June before any decisions are made, Hayden said.

July 4 or before likely is the benchmark for opening Jacksonville’s pool, Ezard said.

“If it’s later than that it’ll probably stay closed for the season,” he said.